Mike Trudell

With the completion of Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick’s press conference, we can officially put a bow on the 2025-26 Lakers season. Big thanks to you all for following along once again!

JJ Redick called Rui Hachimura's shooting transformative, in that it allows him to be an efficient scorer and to elevate his teammates due to the attention he demands. Hachimura finished the season with 15 straight games of 50% or better from 3, including all 10 playoff games.

Redick: "We clearly need to have a better overall season defensively. I think we had flashes of that. I think our improvement defensively is a big credit to our staff." He gave specific credit to assistants Greg St. Jean and Bob Beyer for their work with/presentation of film.

JJ Redick: "We need to build depth beyond just an 8- or 9-man rotation. Maybe 5 games out of the 92 games we played, it was something that I'd planned over the offseason. It really is about building that depth."

Rob Pelinka cited the optionality that the Lakers have this offseason in terms of cap space/free agency, the draft and/or trades. He summarized that "The archetype of the roster we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka and what he needs."

Pelinka on Austin Reaves: "He started his NBA odyssey right here (on the Lakers practice court at a pre-draft workout). He has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker … we want the same thing, (for him to) continue in Purple and Gold. Both sides have made (the desire for him to remain a Laker) abundantly clear.”

Rob Pelinka on LeBron James: “We probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game. He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization. The thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. (That starts with) giving him the time he needs to (decide his next step).”

LeBron: "There's nothing I need to show in this league ... I've done it all, seen it all. Just being able to compete and trying to win championships, that's always been (the) motivating factor. 'How can I compete for a championship?' ... as far as me individually? No."

LeBron: "I left everything I could out on the floor. I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying, even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do. I tried to make sure our guys were locked in on what we needed to do. Obviously we fell a little short, but I'm not looking at my year as a disappointment, that's for damn sure."

LeBron on Austin Reaves: “Seeing AR grow over five years has been nothing short of amazing. He’s a hard worker, he loves the game, he wants to get better and he’s not afraid of constructive criticism. I saw the talent, but also saw that he was willing to put the work in and wasn’t afraid of the moment. To see where he is today is awesome.”

LeBron on the Lakers this year: "There were so many different seasons within one season. I thought we were super resilient, whatever happened (himself, Dončić or Reaves being out injured). I thought our guys were super resilient to win (the Round 1 series)."

LeBron James on what's next: "I don’t know, obviously. We’re still fresh from losing. I don’t know what the future holds for me. As it stands right now tonight … I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk to them, spend some time with them, and when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

Luka Dončić on being a Laker: "I feel very comfortable. I like living here. I like playing for the Lakers. One of the best organizations in the world. Just being a Laker means a lot to me."

Luka Dončić said it was very difficult for him to have to watch, and not be able to play due to the hamstring, which he continues to rehabilitate. "I was sad not to be able to help my team ... I'm still doing recovery, that's the first thing (this offseason)."

Luke Kennard's reflections on this season with the Lakers, whom he joined at the trade deadline: "I'm proud of the group. Everybody sticking together. That first OKC game, definitely took a turn in our season. It was late in the year, and it was tough (to adjust). But I'm proud of the way we stayed together and found the way ... our group was really close and connected. You don't always get that in the NBA, and I think that shows how special the group is." He added that he was honored and blessed to play for the Lakers.

Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart echoed JJ Redick's comments to them that a lot of teams wouldn't have responded the way the players did after both Reaves and Dončić went down with injuries on April 2 at OKC. They loved the fight this team had.

JJ Redick on the identity of the Lakers, as they battled to the No. 4 seed, beat Houston without Luka and ultimately lost to the defending champs: "It ended up being a really hard-playing team, a really together team, and a team with a lot of heart."

Redick: "I didn't want our season to end. I wanted this to keep going. I enjoyed every bit of this, this year."

JJ Redick said he was proud of the fight his players showed tonight, and specifically mentioned how great the crowd was, which helped the sustained/multiple comebacks throughout. Losing hurts, but it wasn't for lack of effort.

LA's season ends in a heartbreaker, as OKC scored the final 6 points of the game after the Lakers had taken a 1-point lead with 40.9 seconds to play. OKC moves onto the West Finals. LeBron finished with 24P, 12R and 3A; Reaves: 27P, 7R, 6A; Hachimura: 25P, 5R; Hayes: 18P, 5R.